The Treaty With the Aetolians
While these envoys, accompanied by those from Rhodes
and Athens, were on their voyage with this object, Marcus
Fulvius sent Caius Valerius also, and some others of his friends
to Rome to secure the ratification of the treaty. But when
they arrived at Rome they found that a fresh cause of anger
with the Aetolians had arisen by the instrumentality of king
Philip; who, looking upon himself as wronged by the Aetolians
having taken Athamania and Dolopia from him, had sent to
some of his friends at Rome, urging them to share his displeasure and secure
the rejection of the pacification. Accordingly, on the first arrival of the Aetolians, the Senate would not
listen to them; but afterwards, at the intercession of the
Rhodians and Athenians, changed its mind and consented to
their request: for Damis,
1 besides other excellences displayed in his speech, was thought to have introduced a very
apt simile, extremely applicable to the case in hand.
He said
"The Romans had good cause for anger with
the Aetolians; for, instead of being grateful for
the many kindnesses received at their hands, they had brought
the Roman Empire into great danger by causing the war with
Antiochus to break out. But the Senate were wrong in one
point, namely in directing their anger against the masses. For
in states the common people were like the sea, which left to
its own nature was ever calm and unmoved, and not in the
least likely ever to trouble any of those who approached or
used it; but directly violent winds blew upon and disturbed
it, and forced it against its nature to become agitated, then
indeed nothing could be more dreadful or formidable than the
sea. This was just the case with the Aetolians. As long
as they were left to themselves, no people in Greece were
more loyal to you or more staunch in supporting your active
measures. But when Thoas and Dicaearchus brought a
storm from Asia, and Mnestas and Damocritus from Europe,
and, disturbing the calm of the Aetolian masses, compelled
them to become reckless of what they said or did,—then
indeed their good disposition gave way to bad, and while intending to do mischief to you they really inflicted damage
upon themselves. It is against these mischief-makers therefore that you should be implacable; while you should take
pity on the masses and make peace with them: with the assurance that, if once more left to themselves, with the additional
feeling of having owed their safety on the present occasion to
you, their attachment to you will be the warmest in Greece."
